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Page A5 |l
June 6, 1985 II
Black womei
Th^ writer is the director of corportne
affairs for the Hanes
Group. She adapted this rnlumn
from a recent speech.
Despite the forces of
slavery, violence and hatred,
black men and women have
fought throughout history to live
their lives together. Together
"As black female profession
1 over tall buildings without tei
speeding bullets without mu
coming trains with a full-tooi
the demands of a career wi
family needs can oroduce an:
piness for the black female a(
one to talk to and no or
Loneliness and alienation art
we've survived an onslaught of
some of the most unimaginable
cruelties ever visited upon a single
race.
And black women who work,
throughout our long history,
have structured and reformed the
definition of womanhood. Indeed,
a noted sociologist has said
that the black woman is the most
viable model of womanhood in
America today.
W iamH
Band leader Joe Daniels
Send
<x#
HE FORUM
i and the prici
THE QU1ST COLUMN
Bv ELYNOR Wit I I AMR
Black women have worked
alongside black men since the
first African slaves were brought
to America. Together, we helped
to build the wealth of this nation.
Often our labor was free because
* *
als, we are expected to leap
iring our pantyhose, out-run
ssing our hair and stop onthed
grin. However, juggliryg
th personal relationships or
xiety, frustration and unhap:hiever.
For many there is no
\e to listen or understand.
? not uncommon. ?
N.
we had no choice.
As black women, we nerfnrm
ed all the domestic chores of
-^cleaning, cooking, washing and
scrubbing to survive under
slavery or simply to keep our
families alive. "A woman's gotta
do what a woman's gotta do,"
writes Bebe Campbell. "Surviving
is nothing new to us. Mama
and Grandma did that. Sisters
got survival down to a science."
Darryl Hunt
The Cinnamon Reggae banc
political last week, pleasing som<
pie, displeasing others and drams
the far-reaching impact of the 1
Hunt murder trial.
As part of^the Arts Council's
the Bag" concert series, which pr
lunchtime music for patrons of W
D?.I. iU. i 1 J-j: ?J
oi|uaic raih, uic Uctuu ucuicaieu 1
formance Friday afternoon to
Eugene Hunt, a 20-year-old blacl
who is being tried for the murder c
tin el copy editor Deborah Sykes.
The band, which has played of
Arts Council-sponsored events lc
included among its repertoire a
whose lyrics contained the ph
OurC
$ m mm-. ^ .
^I
IMoreopinions,
columns and features.
iof success
Historically, the AfricanAmerican
woman has never
simnlu arrAnfpH h<*r 1/-\f 1 r?r t& -% A
MV V V p VV W IIWI IVl . ui.tiv.au,
she sought creative ways to solve
her problems. She also instilled
this legacy of survival in her
children, especially her
daughters. We have always felt if
we can have our daughters look
up to us, then they will never
have to look down on themselves.
From generation to generation,
black mothers have cared, nurtured
and protected their children
... and passed on good advice.
Cornelia, a former slave, quotes
her mother as saying, 4T11 kill
you, gal, if you don't stand up
for yourself.'* The traditions
continue. And so does the surv/iiio
I
MVOli
Throughout her history, "(the
black woman) had nothing to fall
back on: not maleness, not
whiteness, not ladyhood, not
anything," writes Toni Morrison.
"And out of the profound
desolation of her reality she may
well have invented herself."
Our desire to survive resulted
in great progress for our race.
Prior to World War I, domestic
work was one of the precious few
occupations open to black
women. It was soon realized,
however, that good education
trial, the Gnn
J got
Peo"
itizing
Darryl
"Outa #1
inston /
ts perDarryl
k man
>fSert- "Free Darryl Hunt*' i
happened to truth and r
ten in The Arts Council recc
>cally, plaints about the cor
song some from people who s
irases, again contribute to th
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B?HE3^BniM
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Ss^HpBt Iks $
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was a ticket to a better life for a
black woman and the key to
fulfilling the need for more black
teachers.
With the outbreak of World
War I, the black economic situatamon
Reggae
I said spokeswoi
also disavowed
knowledge of
lyrics.
4 The Arts C
# these stateme
H# . made," she
Journal Frida
are not necess
sponsors."
Callison tolc
and "Whatever day that the Cc
ights?" lyrics or subje<
lived some com- is it very eager
icert, including "We had a
aid they'd never who found it (
e organization, "I really woulc
meWi
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i^g Q Owyg
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^i^BP^
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tion worsened. Blacks went north 1
to join the industrial work force. 1
ror Diack women, the doors were 1
open for better education and 1
better jobs. Opportunities seem- 1
ed to abound. But the North
band and the j
man Jenny Callison, who til to g<
I the organization's prior pie wh
the band's statement and gut
namon
Council was not aware that . certs?
:nts were going to-be
told the Winston-Salem "1 '
y. "The views expressed Counc
arily those of the concert think I
out tha
1 me in an interview Mon- Regj
>uncil has no policy on the protest
:t matter of concerts, nor purvey
to start one. long ai
lot of calls from people . native ,
offensive," she said, but born. (
i hate for the Arts Coun
thaPr
We're lucky to live in a spec
Salem. We have more live enter
(than most cities three or four
t Stevens Center, North Carolin
* Reynolda House, Southeaster
I porary Art, and more artistic a
* could ever be mentioned in 01
| We have the historic Germe
I' Salem. We can golf, ride hors
watch polo or ride paddleboats
and Gardens calls one of the I
| in the South, Tknglewood Par
We have so much to offer to tl
Share Winston-Salem with
| groups or organizations. Whel
Washington, D.C., the Greater
or candle-making convention!
invite them to Winston-Salem
Once they get here, they'll ri
I* all along. You really can take h
from Winston-Salem. Wir
I Takeh
I wmmmmmmmwmm
Send for your free "T*ike Hor
I Visitor Kit. Write the Conv>
Bureau, Greater Winston-S
Commerce, 610 Coliseum D
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-]
Name j
\
| Address
| City State
^^Phone
I
jjSgF/.' H
i i
^ !
^ i j
ij
wasn't the place to be. It was
there that self-esteem began to
either. Black women became the
owest^paid and most exploited
workers in the country. It was in
Please see page A14
Arts Council \
i
et into the business of telling peoat
they can or cannot say."
will the Arts Council allow CinReggae
to play in future con
\ i *
can't speak for the whole Arts
il," CaJlison said, "but I don't
that (the mention of Hunt) rules
it they don't play with us again."
;ae music is often the music of
One of its most famous
ors, the late Bob Marley, sang
id hard about the politics of his
Jamaica, where reggae music was
Dne of his obviously more mili
Please see page A14
fend.
ial place like Winstontainment
and art exhibits
times our size. There's
1a School of the Arts,
n Center For Contemind
creative outlets than
ne single ad.
in Moravian town, Old
eback, swim, picnic,
at a place Better Homes
best vacation surprises
k.
le people who come here,
your fiiends, relatives,
ther it's your uncle from
Jacksonville Glee Club,
;ers from California ?
ealize what we've known
ome something special
iston-Salem
lome Something Special
ne Something Special"^^
ention and Visitors
alem Chamber of
rive, P.O. Box 1408,
[408; or call 725-2361. |
1
1
Zip I